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		<H2><A NAME="IDX1"></A>Chapter 1. A Very Quick Overview</H2>
		<P>
Data Explorer is a system of tools and user interfaces for visualizing
data.
In general terms the visualization of data can be considered a 3-stage
process:
<A NAME="IDX2"></A>
<A NAME="IDX3"></A>
		<OL COMPACT>
<LI>Describing and importing data
<LI>Processing the data through a visualization program
<LI>Presenting the resulting image.
</OL>
The simple diagram below shows where the chief tools and interfaces of
Data Explorer fit into this process.
The numbered list that follows <A HREF="#FIGOVERDG">Figure 1</A> is keyed to the
diagram.
The list items briefly describe the roles of these features in Data Explorer
visualization and give references to the relevant Data Explorer
documentation.
<P><B><A NAME="FIGOVERDG" HREF="../qikguide.htm#FT_FIGOVERDG">Figure 1. Main
features of Data Explorer</A></B>. Tools and interfaces are positioned to show
their general place in the visualization process. All those listed below the
data-&gt;image sequence are interactive interfaces except for the "modules" (6
and 10), which are directly accessible and manipulable in the Visual Program
Editor (5). Numbers correspond to those in the accompanying list. Underlined
features are discussed in this Guide. Features not underlined are discussed in
other documentation, cited in the list.<BR>
<TABLE BORDER  ><TR><TD><BR>
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displayed."></CENTER><BR></B><BR>
</TD></TR></TABLE>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="3">
<TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(1) Data Model
<A NAME="IDX5"></A>
<A NAME="IDX6"></A>
<A NAME="IDX7"></A>
<A NAME="IDX8"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>The set of definitions, rules, and conventions used to describe
Data Explorer entities (including data fields, geometrical objects,
and images).
<P>
See
<A HREF="../usrguide.htm">
<I>IBM Visualization Data Explorer User&#39;s Guide</I>.</A>
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(2) Data Prompter
<A NAME="IDX10"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>A user interface for describing data to be imported into Data
Explorer.
<P>
See <A HREF="qikgu018.htm">3.3 , "Importing Data"</A> and <A
HREF="qikgu030.htm">5.4 , "Data Prompter"</A>
in this Guide.
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(3) Data Browser
<A NAME="IDX11"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>A user interface for viewing a data file, determining the layout
and
organization of the data it contains, and transferring this
information to the Data Prompter (2).
<P>
See <A HREF="qikgu031.htm">5.5 , "Data Prompter Browser"</A> in this
Guide.
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(4) Scripting Language
<A NAME="IDX12"></A>
<A NAME="IDX13"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>A simple, high-level language for creating visualization
programs.
It can also be used directly in a command mode to perform various
tasks.
Visual programs--i.e., the visualization programs displayed in
the Visual Program Editor window (5) as "networks" of module
icons--are also written in the scripting language.
A visual program constructed in this window by the user is translated
into the same language when it is saved to disk.
<P>
See
<A HREF="../usrguide.htm">
<I>IBM Visualization Data Explorer User&#39;s Guide</I>.</A>
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(5) Visual Program Editor (VPE)
<A NAME="IDX14"></A>
<A NAME="IDX16"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>A graphical user interface for creating and modifying visual
programs (networks).
Programs created with this editor are translated into the scripting
language (4) by Data Explorer and are stored in that form.
<P>
See <A HREF="qikgu016.htm#HDRTEDVP">3.1 , "Editing a Visual Program: The
Basics"</A> in this Guide; see also
<A HREF="../usrguide.htm">
<I>IBM Visualization Data Explorer User&#39;s Guide</I>.</A>
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(6) Modules
<A NAME="IDX18"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>The "building blocks" (visualization "tools") that
constitute a visual program network.
They can be directly accessed and manipulated in the Visual Program Editor (5).
<P>
See
<A HREF="../refguide.htm">
<I>IBM Visualization Data Explorer User&#39;s Reference</I>.</A>
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(7) Module Builder
<A NAME="IDX20"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>A user interface for creating customized modules to be used in
visual programs.
<P>
See
<A HREF="../proguide.htm">
<I>IBM Visualization Data Explorer Programmer&#39;s Reference</I>.</A>
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(8) Image Window
<A NAME="IDX21"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>An interactive window for viewing and modifying the
presentation of the image produced by a visual program.
<P>
See <A HREF="qikgu015.htm">2.5 , "Controlling the Appearance of an
Object: The Image Window"</A> in this Guide.
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(9) Control Panels
<A NAME="IDX22"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>A user interface for changing the parameter values used by a
visual program.
<P>
See <A HREF="qikgu015.htm#HDRCPAPA">"Using Control Panels"</A> in this Guide;
see also
<A HREF="../usrguide.htm">
<I>IBM Visualization Data Explorer User&#39;s Guide</I>.</A>
</TD></TR><TR VALIGN="TOP"><TD><P><B>(10) Display Module
<A NAME="IDX23"></A>
<A NAME="IDX24"></A>
</B></TD><TD><P>An alternative to the Image window (8).
<P>
See
<A HREF="../refguide.htm">
<I>IBM Visualization Data Explorer User&#39;s Reference</I>.</A>
</TD></TR></TABLE>
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